Posted by LWM Team on Tue, Feb 09, 2010
The I.R.S. wants "phishers of men" BADLY. Phishing tax scams for just ONE YEAR totaled over 33,000. The dirty criminals used more than 1,500 different tax scams to cheat innocent tax payers out of their money, identity and basically, their most valued information. Phishing is a tactic used over the internet and is usually done through e-mail. Scammers send e-mails out to unsuspecting victims claiming to be almost any person, business or agency just to get vital information. And it works too! Phishing Scammers have even used the name of the I.R.S. to obtain information they then use to take money from account and numerous other ‘evil deeds.' The I.R.S. does not send e-mail to anyone for ANY reason! So just ‘don't' fall prey to anyone claiming to be anyone by internet e-mail unless you call and verify the authenticity for yourself!
Don't be ‘Hooked'
One BIG phishing scam involves telling people about the economic stimulus plan and its rebate. Nothing draws out the fool in a person more than thinking they have some free money coming! But don't fall for it...getting the stimulus payment is as easy as filing a simple return and going directly to the source, the I.R.S. The I.R.S. has a special website for forwarding any communication that is allegedly from them. You may really have a stimulus rebate coming, but if you fall for these tricksters e-mails you will pay more than you will ever get.
Another phishing scam that can get you into hot water involves believing certain e-mail or phone solicitors can lower your taxes owed or eliminate them completely...usually by making you believe certain facts are true that aren't. BEWARE...these ‘scams' can cost YOU $5,000 in penalties from the I.R.S itself!
Posted by LWM Team on Mon, Feb 08, 2010
It’s human nature (good excuse) to try to ‘beat’ taxes! As time goes on the argument for this practice becomes more convincing. After all isn’t it ‘We the People’ who can put our own money to best use? The government DOES NOT have a solid reputation for spending money wisely. Blood boils within America every time we hear about $200 toilet seats! So beating the tax man has become an ego game of “catch me if you can...and if you don’t...I WIN!” But BEWARE...not only does our federal government NEED more cash than ever, but they are stepping up investigations to get the cheaters! If you can beat an audit...no problem! But then have you ever heard of anyone who actually beat an audit?
Here is a list of the top 12 cheaters (aka "The Dirty Dozen"):
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Phishing scams
- Scams relating to the economic stimulus
- Frivolous arguments (people who use unusual constitutional based or ‘off the given path’ ways to take credits or lower their income)
- Fuel Tax Credit Scams (fuel purchase tax credit given mostly to farmers and others who use fuel off of highways for farming equipment etc...)
- Hiding Income By Keeping It Off Shore...(you know, like the Swiss Bank Account thing)
- Abuse of Roth Individual Retirement Plans (trying to hide valuable assets by transferring them at below market price to other places)
- Zero Wages (claiming zero income when an employer provides a W-2 for you)
- False Claims for Refunds or ‘Income Abatement’ (trying to get all income considered null and void due to false claims)
- Tax Preparer Fraud (using forms and unethical and illegal credits to take more fee or gain more refund for the tax payer)
- Disguised Corporate Ownership (setting up a corporation that is illegitimate and sometimes used for money laundering for ‘ill gotten gain’)
- Misuse of Trust Accounts
- Abuse of Charitable Organizations and Deductions.
If you are involved in any cheater games, be aware that Uncle Sam IS WATCHING and red flagging the Dirty Dozen! Getting caught means an automatic $5,000 penalty...not to mention jail